Strong Sensodyne demand helps Haleon beat sales forecasts

Recasts with details on respiratory products, oral health, weak US demand

By Raechel Thankam Job

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Sensodyne toothpaste maker Haleon's HLN.L third-quarter organic revenue growth narrowly beat forecasts on Thursday, as strong demand for its oral health products offset lower respiratory health sales amid slower U.S. consumer spending.

Haleon, which also makes Advil painkillers and Centrum multi-vitamins, said oral health revenue jumped 6.9% globally, with Sensodyne growing in the high-single digits and gaining market share in the United States and India.

The British healthcare group's organic revenue growth, which excludes currency moves and recent deals, of 3.4% for the three months ended September 30 compared an estimate of 3.3% in a poll of analysts compiled by the company.

Organic sales growth in the United States grew 0.4% in the third-quarter, a pick-up from the 1.8% fall in the second quarter, and Haleon said it was outperforming the market.

Haleon maintained its organic revenue growth expectation of around 3.5% for 2025, assuming a normal cold and flu season.

The company, had earlier said organic revenue growth would be stronger in the second half of 2025, driven by sales in other regions, as demand in North America will likely remain muted.

"EMEA & LatAm performed well, and we continued to grow market share in North America despite a challenging consumer environment," Haleon CEO Brian McNamara said in a statement.

Slower spending in the U.S., Haleon's biggest market, coupled with economic uncertainty, the U.S. government shutdown and rising competition, has weighed on demand for seasonal and discretionary brands like its Smokers' Health products.

(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Alexander Smith)

((RaechelThankam.Job@thomsonreuters.com;))